What exactly is export agency business?

Export agency refers to the practice where an enterprise entrusts a professional company with qualifications to handle the entire export process on its behalf,including core links such as customs declaration and inspection,logistics and transport,foreign exchange settlement,and tax refund applicationand other core processes.According to the latest statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China in 2025,about 38% of SMEs choose the agency export model to develop the international market.

What is the difference between export agency and self-operated export?

• Qualificationrequirementdifferences:Self-operatedexportrequiresobtainingimportandexportrightsindependently,whileexportagencycanusetheagent’squalifications
• Differentcoststructures:Exportagencyincludesservicefeesbutsavesthecostofbuildinganin-houseteam
• Risk-bearingmethods:Aprofessionalagencycanshareoperationalriskssuchasdocumentationandcompliance

What are the new advantages of choosing an export agent in 2025?

• Accelerateddigitalcustomsclearance:Agencycompaniesgenerallyhaveaccesstothecustoms"SingleWindow"3.0system,improvingcustomsdeclarationefficiencyby40%
• RCEPpolicybenefits:Aprofessionalagentcanassistenterprisesinapplyingforcertificatestoenjoytariffreductions
• Exchangeratehedgingtools:Leadingagencyorganizationsprovidevalue-addedservicessuchasforeignexchangehedging

What types of enterprises are suitable for export agency business?

• Start-upforeigntradeenterprises:Manufacturingenterpriseswithanannualexportvalueoflessthan$5million
• Seller:B2Centerprisesthatneedtohandleexportstomultipleplatformsandcountries
• Exportersinspecialindustries:Involve,FDAregistration,andotherprofessionalfields

How are the conventional service fees for export agency calculated?

In 2025,the agency service fees mainly consist of the following components (taking East China as an example):

• Basicservicefee:Chargedat0.8%-1.5%ofgoodsvalue
• • PresentationofL/Cdocuments:800-1500yuanperorder
  • Agencyforexporttaxrebate:5%-8%ofthetaxrebateamount
  :
  • Custody:5%-8%ofthetaxrefundamount
  • Documentreview:500-2000RMBpertransaction
• Risk guarantee deposit : Some agents require a performance bond of 1% of the cargo value

How to identify a professional and reliable export agency company?

• QualificationVerification:CheckforcustomsAEOcertificationandClassAenterprisequalificationfromtheforeignexchangeadministration
• Systemintegrationcapability:WhetheritsupportsdirectdataconnectionwiththeERPsystem
• Riskcontrolsystem:Thecoverageratioofexportcreditinsurance
• IndustryReputation:Checktheenterprise’screditratingontheofficialwebsiteoftheChinaCouncilforthePromotionofInternationalTrade

What potential risks in export agency need attention?

• Cargoownershiprisk:Thebillofladingconsigneeandcargoownershiptransferclausesmustbeclearlyspecifiedinthecontract
• Taxauditrisk:Ensuretheagencycompanyhandlesexporttaxrebatesinacompliantmanner
• Informationsecurityrisk:Aconfidentialityagreementmustbesignedforcustomerdataandtransactioninformation

What impact will the latest foreign trade policies in 2025 have on export agency services?

According to the "Guiding Opinions on New Forms and Models of Foreign Trade" issued by the Ministry of Commerce in January 2025:

• Qualifiedexportagencyenterprisesareallowedtoapplyfor"marketprocurementtrade"pilotqualifications
• Apilotprogramforanelectronicexportagencyfilingsystemwillbelaunchedtoshortenthetimeforobtainingqualifications
• ApolicyofpriorityhandlingofVATcreditrefundsforsmallandmicroexportagencyenterpriseswillbeimplemented